The Cave Du 38Riv is a great underground jazz club in the Marais, right on the rue de Rivoli and near the Hotel de Ville.

On Monday nights at 8:30pm, check out the free "Jam Sessions" with all sorts of accomplished musicians. Last night there were instruments ranging from the trombone, to the clarinet, flute, piano, base, guitar, French horn, drums, even an accordion player and a man who could make sounds like a trumpet simply using his lips!

It is an informal atmosphere, with various musicians standing up and taking turns playing the main melody, or matching off against each other, note for note in a friendly sort of competition, as we saw last night between two talented clarinet players. It is incredible to see these people who are obviously so passionate about music, just hear a note and a beat, and just start to improvise into incredible music. This is what Jazz is meant to be - full of energy and alive, rather than what can often be something slick, pre-determined and lacking soul (seemingly made with no other purpose than to be played in the background of Starbucks!) Here you will find nothing but the authentic, and it will make you feel like times before that you have only read about.

Grab a drink in the back (€4 for a glass of wine, €5 baguette sandwiches looked tasty if you are hungry), find a seat and enjoy! There are also jazz concerts at the venue (check out the website for the schedule), as well as Acoustic Jam Sessions on Thursdays, 8:30pm. A new category of Jam Sessions is set to open up for Friday nights at 10:30pm as well. So, you have many choices to be entertained musically!